Irreversible inhibition of herpes simplex virus replication in BSC-1 cells by zinc ions

Zinc sulfate added to the medium of herpes simplex virus-infected BSC-1 cells, at a concentration of 0.1 mM, inhibited the synthesis of infectious virus progeny by 95 to 96%. A concentration of 0.2 mM zinc sulfate inhibited herpes simplex virus synthesis by 99.8% as determined by centrifugation in sucrose gradients and by plaque assay on BSC-1 monolayers. The inhibition of herpes simplex virus replication in BSC-1 cells was found to be irreversible.